Automatic train-pipe coupling.



J. J. MITCHELL.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING APPLICATION. FILED NOV. 6. 1915.

Patented May 2,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I. I. II/IITCHELL. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, I915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JESSE J'. MITCHELL, 0F PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed November 6, 1915. Serial No. 60,068.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, Jnssn J. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parkersburg, in the county of Wood and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in automatic coupling device for train line air pipes and signal and steam pipes. Y

In carrying out the present invention it is my purpose to provide a coupling device of the class described which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, wherein the component parts will be so arranged and correlated that the same may have relative movement when rounding curves and traveling over uneven road beds, and which will operate effectively for its intended purpose under all conditions. j

With the above recited objects in view and others of a similar nature the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an automaticcoupler constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig, 2. Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation of the coupler.

Referring now to the drawings in detail 1 designates a plate adapted to be fastened to the car body at one end thereof and to depend from such body and formed in the plate 1 approximately centrally thereof is an opening 2. Fastened to o the back of the plate 1 and projecting rearwardly therefrom beneath the car body are frames 3 spaced apart transversely of the car and arranged parallel with each other. In the present instance each frame 3 embodies a bottom bar 4, a top bar 5 and a rear end bar 6 interconnecting the top and bottom bars at therear ends thereof, the forward ends of the top and bottom bars being flanged outwardly as at 7 and fastened to the plate 1. Mounted within the alining openings in the top and bottom bars of the respective frames 3 are vertical rods 8 disposed adjacent to the rear end bars 6 of the frames and surrounding each rod 8 are counteracting coiled expansion springs 9 arranged one above the other.

10 designates a substantially rectangular, or other shaped frame, arranged across the space between the frames 3-3 at the rear ends thereof and having the opposite ends formed with outwardly projecting lugs 1111 respectively formed with openings that receive the rods 8. These lugs 11 are disposed between the springs. 9 on the respective rods 8 and the springs, counteracting each other, acting to hold the frame 10 in normal position, and, at the same time, permit the frame to move vertically whenever necessary. 7

The frame 10 is disposed in alinement with the opening 2 in the plate 1 and mounted between the top and bottom bars of the frame 10 is the yoke 12 formed on one end of a sleeve 13 and slidably mounted within the remaining end of the sleeve 13 is one .end portion of a stem 14 projecting through the opening 2 and having the outer end thereof equipped with a coupler head 15 formed with a series of passages 16, opening on to the outer end of the head and designed for connection with the signal hose, air hose and the steam hose respectively. The end portion of the stem 14 within the sleeve 13 is preferably round in cross section while the end portion of the stem within the opening 2 is preferably angular in cross section and conforms to the shape of the opening so as to hold the stem and the head against turning movement. At the juncture of the round portion with the square portion the stem is formed with a groove 17 and surrounding the grooved portion of the stem and secured thereto is a collar 18 while surrounding the stem and the sleeve 13 between the collar 18 and the shoulder formed by the yoke 12 is a coiled expansion spring 19 having one extremity bearing against the collar and the other end engaging the yoke. This,

spring 19 acts to cushion the shock when two couplers are brought together so as to reduce the vibration of the parts. Mounted within the sleeve 13 is a hollow piston 20 having the inner end thereof opening into the sleeve and communicating with a bore 21 formed in the rounded end portion of the stem 14 and the outer end projecting from the sleeve into the yoke 12 and formed with a port 22 connected through the medium of a flexible hose 23 with a branch pipe 24k tapped on to the train line air pipe 25. Connected in the branch pipe 24- is a cut off cook 26 and an automatic pressure operated relief valve 27.

2828 designate substantially V-shaped links having the apices thereof disposed in engagement with the respective limbs of the yoke 12 above and below the outer end of the piston 20, and formed in the outer end .of the piston 20, the apices of the links 28 v brackets 31 carried by the rear side of the plate or adjacent to the respective ends of such plate.

' In practice the air from the train line air pipe is led into the hollow piston 20 by means of the cook 26 and as the air enters the piston such air acts upon the inner end of the piston and the outer end of the bore 21 in the stem 14 thereby separating the piston and the stem and acting to hold the stem and; coupling head normally at the longitudinal medial line of the coupler. When two couplers are joined together the air in the hollow piston holds the couplers normally in alinement and maintains the parts of the respective couplers in normal position. \Vhen, however, the coupled cars round a curve, theaction of the air is overcome and thesleeves 13 and stems 14 carrying the coupler head adjust themselves to thecurve and swing about the pins 29, the yokes 12 and links 28 moving horizontally in the rounding of the curve. After the curve 'has'been passed the air reacts to restore the sleeve and stem to normal position. The opening 2 in the plate 1 is preferably in the form of a horizontal slot to permit the stems to swing as just described, and secured to the outer'face of the plate 1 at opposite ends of the slot 2 are vertical guides 32 within which are slidably mounted .the ends of a horizontal rod 33 arranged across slot 2 and forming a support for the outer end of the stem 14. Arranged below the rod 33 adj acent' to the respective guides 32 are brackets 34 and projecting upwardly from the brackets 3a are stems 35 extending through the openings in the rod 33. Surrounding the respective stems 35 are coiled expansion springs 36 whilethreaded on to the upper 7 ends of the stem 35 are nuts 37 that act to limit the upward movement of the rod 33 under the action of the springs 36. The springs 36 check the'weight of the stem 1 1 and coupler head thereon and coact with the springs 9 to permit the coupler head, stem and sleeve to move vertically when the car is passing over any uneven road bed.

In the present instance the outer end of the head 15 is equipped with contacts 16 connected with the telephone wires on the car and designed to connect the telephone wires on the respective cars of the train in circuit formation.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my improved coupler will be readily understood. The coupler is preferably disposed below the car coupler and will effect the connection between the brake pipes, signal pipes, steam pipes and telephone wires as soon as the cars are coupled together.

It will, of course, be understood that each of the cars is equipped with a coupling device constructed in accordance with my present invention and, in practice, a pressure retaining valve is preferably located in the branch pipe leading from the air brake pipe to the hollow piston so as to prevent the air from returning to the air brake pipe in the event of a reduction of the pressure in such pipe.

I claim 1. An automatic coupler of the class de scribed comprising a supporting plate formed with a horizontal slot, frames secured to one side of said supporting plate and projecting outwardly therefrom and spaced apart in parallelism, a stem having one end projecting through said slot and the other end disposed between said frames, a coupler head on the outer end of said stem, a sleeve surrounding the inner end of the stem, a shock absorbing spring surrounding said sleeve and the inner portion of said stem having one end bearing against the stem and the remaining end engaging the sleeve and a pivotal connection between the end of the sleeve remote from the stem and said frames whereby the stem and coupler head may swing horizontally.

2. An automatic coupler of the class described comprising a supporting plate formed with a horizontal slot, frames secured to one side of said supporting plate and projecting outwardly therefrom and spaced apart in parallelism, a stem having one, end projecting through said slot and the other end disposed between said frame, a coupler head on the outer end of said stem, a sleeve surrounding the inner end of said stem, a shock absorbing spring surrounding said sleeve and the inner portion of said stem having one end bearing against the stem and the remaining end engaging the sleeve and a pivotal connection between the endof the sleeve remote from the stemand said frames whereby the stem and coupler head may swing horizontally and means holding said sleeve and stem in normal position and adapted to restore the same to such position succeeding the swinging thereof.

3. An automatic coupler of the class described comprising a supporting plate formed with a horizontal slot, frames secured to one side of said supporting plate and projecting outwardly therefrom and spaced apart in parallelism, a stem having one end projecting through said slot and the other end disposed between said frames, a coupler head on the outer end of said stem, a sleeve surrounding the inner end of the stem, a shock absorbing spring sur rounding said sleeve and the inner portion of said stem having one end bearing against the stem and the remaining end engaging the sleeve and a pivotal connection between the end of the sleeve remote from the stem and said frames whereby the stem and ooupler head may swing horizontally and pneumatic means holding said sleeve and stem in normal position and adapted to restore the same to such position succeeding the swinging thereof.

4:. An automatic coupler of the class described comprising a supporting plate formed with a horizontal slot, frames secured to one side of said supporting plate and projecting outwardly therefrom and spaced apart in parallelism, a stem having one end projecting through said slot and the other end disposed between said frames, at coupler head on the outer end of said stem, a sleeve surrounding the inner end of the stem, a shock absorbing spring surrounding said sleeve and the inner portion of said stem having one end bearing against the stem and the remaining end engaging the sleeve and a pivotal connection between the end of the sleeve remote from the stem and said frames whereby the stem and coupler head may swing horizontally and means supporting said sleeve and stem for vertical movement.

In testimony whereof I ai'liX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE J. MITCHELL.

"Witnesses:

J. WV. MEAoHAN, W. E. TRACEWELL.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained "for' five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

